WHAT A NIGHT, INDEED! Eau What a Night celebrated area professionals and what the future holds for the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Seckora Photography)

Five area professionals were honored at Eau What a Night, the 109th annual Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce meeting held at the Pablo Center on Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Though just two days after the shocking closure announcement of HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls, and multiple Prevea Health offices in the region, the annual event was able to highlight and celebrate area leaders.

Outstanding Chamber Volunteer of the Year awards were given to Jennifer McHugh, vice president of community engagement at Royal Credit Union, who leads the chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee, and Heather Costley, an experienced nurse administrator at Mayo Clinic Health System, for her volunteer work with the chamber’s Leadership Eau Claire program.

Chamber Ambassador Josh Zeug, an account executive at Huebsch Services, was presented the Glassbrenner-Klinkhammer Spirit Award for demonstrating the highest level of commitment to the chamber’s Ambassador Program. Travis Ida, regional account executive for Trust Point, was recognized as the Outstanding Young Professional of the Chippewa Valley.

Eau Claire Chief of Police Matt Rokus was named Public Employee of the Year for his efforts to move the department forward on a number of fronts, in particular, by changing the department’s approach to working with the community’s homeless population.

View photos from this year’s event online, and learn more about the Eau Claire Area of Commerce here.